Page 31 of Rejected By the Alpha

“Yes,” I nod, taking my phone out and looking to see if there are any new messages from him. There are none.

“Then who is it that he saved?” Marco asks. I close my eyes for a moment, not sure how I should answer this. I can feel their curious gaze on me, but fear of telling them it is my mate creeps in. Marco was the one to help me through the pain. What would he think if he realizes I am happy Lucas is out of Oak Fur safely?

“Simon saved my nephew,” Amelia finally answers. I open my eyes to see Marco looking at me in shock.

“Your nephew, as in Kaylee’s ex that rejected her?” Royce asks, standing from his chair to pace the room.

“Yes, he saved my ex-mate,” I confirm, watching as anger washes over my friends.

“Does he expect to join Ivory Fangs? It’s bad enough we have Shadow Moon here, but to have that little bastard!” Marco shouts, causing Amelia to growl at him. Both men quiet down, Royce looking between Marco and me, while I stay silent and allow Amelia to be the one to lead this meeting.

“Lucas doesn’t know I am the alpha, nor that Kaylee is the beta,” Amelia shouts back, holding her hand out to stop Marco from asking anything further.

“Let me explain what happened first before you idiots get your fur ruffled,” she continues, before going into detail about what happened last night. I watch as Royce slowly takes a seat, their shock at learning that Ramos is fucking his son’s fiancée morphing into anger. I then take over, explaining that Lucas rejecting me has something to do with Marilyn and that I need to know what this reason is. I deserve the truth, and Royce agrees, but Marco broods in his seat.

“I don’t like this,” he voices, rising from his seat to pull me into his arms.

“Neither do we, but I fear that if Lucas doesn’t escape, he will be forced to marry Marilyn, or Ramos will kill his own son,” Amelia agrees, eyeing Marco and me. I ignore her look as Marco takesin my scent again. I can feel him shaking, feel the rage and anger coursing through him.

“Kaylee, you deserve so much more, but I won’t stop you if you decide to get back with your ex. He is your goddess-given mate,” he voices after a moment of silence passes. He pulls away, looking into my eyes and giving me a helpless smile. My heart skips a beat when I see the emotions swirling in his eyes, emotions I am not sure I can accept.

“I just want the truth, Marco. Whether or not I end up with him is up to fate, but I am not ready for any relationships just yet.” I smile sadly at my friend, who nods. I can see the sadness in his eyes from my subtle rejection, but he stays quiet. We both have been through a lot because of our mates rejecting us. I know with how we talk and flirt that he is ready to move on and find love, but I am not. I accepted the pain and survived it, but now I need to find who I am as a person, away from Oak Fur. To grow and relearn how to love myself, before I can love anyone else.

“So, what do we do for now?” Marco releases me and backs away, his carefree smile returning to his face as he gives his attention to Amelia.

“We deal with Shadow Moon first. Getting their visit done and over with in five days is our priority, as we won’t be able to receive the last batch of Oak Fur wolves for another eight days,” she states, standing from her chair and placing a hand on Marco’s shoulder. I can see that this affects him just as much as my gentle rejection did, but I know Marco is strong. He can handle this.

“I need you and Royce to keep your emotions in check. We need their land and the money they are offering, now more than ever.Do you think you can do this?” Amelia asks, looking between Marco and Royce.

“We can, Alpha.” Royce stands once more, determination set on his face. I smile at him and mouth a thank you. After explaining the plans for the next few days, Amelia sends us out just as David arrives with the pups in tow. I give him a hug and he reassures me that everything will be okay before I am left alone in the hallway.

If we can just get through these next five days, then I can prepare myself to see Lucas for the first time since the rejection.

32

Kaylee

“Beta Kaylee.” Turning at the sound of my name, I notice Beta Titus walking towards me with a smile on his face. I nod in response, waiting for the visiting wolf to grow closer before I say anything. He has freshened up since the last time I saw him and his alpha at lunch, his blond hair slicked back with hair gel and his clothes fresh.

“How did you find your guest house?” I ask, trying to create small talk once Beta Titus has stopped just a little in front of me.

“It is nice and clean. Alpha Amelia did an amazing job providing accommodations.” I laugh, turning to see David speaking with a few omegas as they prepare the field we stand on to become a community garden.

“Amelia had nothing to do with it. David is our Luan—male Luna,” I begin, clarifying what a Luan is when I notice Beta Tituslooking at me in confusion. “And he takes care of the duties a Luna usually does. He relishes in the homemaking role, and it just suits David.”

Beta Titus nods, looking towards the direction I motion and spotting David pulling back the hunk of ground with grass attached. “It is just fresh, seeing she-wolves take over predominantly male roles.”

I scoff, finding myself enjoying my conversation with this visiting beta. “Amelia should have been the alpha in our old pack. She is flourishing now, and I am happy for her,” I admit, motioning for Beta Titus to follow me as I walk around the pack. David and the omegas are fine. If he needs my help, he will link me.

“You don’t call her alpha like everyone else. Why is that?” Beta Titus catches up to me, staying in step as we make our way towards the forest.

“It’s because Amelia and David are family to me. My parents made them my godparents, and when they passed, Amelia and David were there for me,” I explain, sighing as we stop just inside the tree line.

“The mate that rejected me also happens to be Amelia’s nephew.” Beta Titus lets out a low whistle while I turn and rummage through a fallen log, finding a mesh bag and grinning.

“I am sorry to hear that.” I can hear the sincerity in his tone and smile. Beta Titus seems more approachable than his alpha.

“I am going foraging in the forest, if you wish to join me?” I inquire, holding out the mesh bag as evidence and getting ready to grab another one from inside the logs.

---